Donnelly praises Belcoo character as Devenish face Bridge in relegation decider

Fourteen man Belcoo secured their Division One status on Sunday with a two point victory over Devenish in Derrygonnelly - but for the Garrison men they now face a crunch clash with Maguiresbridge this Sunday to decide their fate.
For the winner, they will remain in the top flight for the 2017 season but for the loser, they will join Tempo in dropping to Division Two for next season.
It took a strong second half display from Belcoo to steer them to the win on Sunday. 
Having lost Christopher Leonard to two yellow cards inside the opening ten minutes, they trailed Devenish by four points at half time, 0-07 to 0-03.
But they produced their best football of the season in the second half to turn the game around, powering on in the final ten minutes after getting back on level terms to secure the victory.
“We played with 14 men for about 55 minutes of the game and it was backs to the wall for us but it was the first time this year that we showed a bit of character and at the end of the day we are delighted. We went into the game as underdogs but I was quietly confident that if we played to our potential we would win the game. I do though think that the system is wrong as Devenish finished the league with 15 points but they are looking down the barrel of a gun now,” said Belcoo manager Hugh Donnelly.
Devenish manager Malachy Cullen acknowledges the importance of this week’s meeting with Maguiresbridge.
“To be honest, it is the most important game we have played in quite a long time,” said Cullen. “The difference in this week’s game as opposed to the Belcoo one is that it is a do or die situation and with Maguiresbridge having won last week they will have momentum. However, we have to look at this as a one off game, we have to treat it like a championship match and hopefully we can come out on the right side.”
It was Devenish who were to do all the early running as Barry Mulrone landed three frees in the opening minutes while Belcoo were then reduced to 14 men when Leonard picked up a second yellow card. When Mulrone popped over another free it put Devenish four ahead and seemingly in control of matters.
Substitute Philip Leonard got Belcoo up and running as he fired over two frees but these were cancelled out by a fifth Mulrone point from a free and a John McNulty point from play to make it 0-06 to 0-02.
Philip Leonard and John O’Flanagan then traded points late in the half to leave them Garrison outfit four points clear at the interval.
It took a good save from Belcoo goalkeeper James McGrath to keep out a McNulty effort early in the second half although Jason Love banged over the 45 to put Devenish five in front, 0-08 to 0-03.
However, Belcoo were to gain the upperhand after this, getting their hands on more ball and moving it quickly into a lively attack that won a number of frees which were converted.
Dolan and Leonard rattled over four points from frees to reduce the deficit to one but Mulrone replied with a free for Devenish to again put two in it.
The sides then swapped scores but Belcoo were by now in the ascendancy and five points in a row swung the tie in their favour.
Dolan converted two frees to level things at 0-10 each before McGrath (2) and Leonard pushed them three clear.
Back though came Devenish and Love fisted over before James McGrath pulled off another good save as he pushed a Terry O’Flanagan drive over the bar as the gap was cut back to one.
However, Belcoo won possession from the resultant kick out and they powered forward for Dolan to slot over as they retained their place in Division One for next season.